Uyen Pham

Uyen Pham serves as Associate Professor of Culinary Arts at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in San Antonio, Texas, leveraging a unique background spanning collegiate education and fine dining. After earning a Master's in Education and BS in Kinesiology from the University of Houston with magna and summa cum laude honors, she transitioned to culinary arts, graduating top of her class from CIA in 2004.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Master of Education, University of Houston
• Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, University of Houston (magna/summa cum laude)
• Culinary Institute of America diploma (2004, top honors)

Pham's expertise centers on global cuisines with specialized focus on Asian and Mediterranean techniques, fermentation science, and dietary-specific cooking including vegan/gluten-free applications. She champions sustainability through food recovery initiatives and nutrition-focused culinary practices that balance environmental impact with human health.

Her professional recognition includes:

• Magna and Summa Cum Laude distinctions from University of Houston
• CIA's Top Honors graduate award (2004)
• Certified Executive Chef credential
• UNESCO Chef Ambassador designation

Pham founded CIA's acclaimed SAVOR restaurant (2019), judged Food Network's All-Star Academy, and consulted for Google/Facebook on culinary team-building. She transformed San Antonio Independent School District meal programs to serve 100,000 daily meals while advocating for food security. Her philosophy merges traditional techniques with modern innovation to create nutritionally balanced, culturally resonant cuisine.